5 things to know about the Redskins: Alex Smith is now the QB, but can he end the Cowboys' dominance over Washington?
By SportsDayDFW.com
The Cowboys travel to Washington to play the Redskins on Sunday. Here are five things Cowboys fans need to know about the NFC East rival.
New QB
The Cowboys won't face Kirk Cousins when they play the Redskins on Sunday. Alex Smith will be under center for Washington instead.
The Redskins traded corner back Kendall Fuller and a third-round pick to the Kansas City Chiefs in exchange for Smith. That allowed Washington to let Cousins to leave via free agency and Kansas City to move forward with Patrick Mahomes as their starting quarterback.
Smith has been solid through five games, throwing for 1,205 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions.
He has played the Cowboys three times in his career and his 1-2, throwing for 665 yards, six touchdowns and two interceptions. He faced the Cowboys last season when the Chiefs visited Dallas in November. Smith was 25 of 34 for 263 yards, two touchdowns and one interceptions in a 28-17 loss for Kansas City.
Adrian Peterson
The Redskins plans at running back changed when rookie Derrius Guice tore his ACL in August. Washington signed veteran Adrian Peterson to fill the void left by Guice's injury.
Peterson was heavily linked to the Cowboys a few seasons ago, but Ezekiel Elliott is now firmly entrenched as the team's starting running back and best player.
He's had a solid season for the Redskins so far, rushing for 339 yards and three touchdowns on 77 carries. The Cowboys might not see Peterson on Sunday -- the 32-year-old is dealing with shoulder, ankle and knee injuries.
Can't beat the Cowboys
The Cowboys have had the Redskins' number recently, winning the last four matchups and eight out of the last 10. Here's a look at those matchups.
"Ever since I've been here, Dallas has just been a thorn in our side," Josh Norman said after the last time the two teams played. "I don't understand. I don't know what we do when we come down here to play these guys or when they come up to D.C. to play us. It's devastating man. It really is."
Josh Norman
The Cowboys will still have to deal with Redskins corner back Josh Norman. The former Pro Bowler is coming off a bounce-back performance against the Carolina Panthers, where he came up with a forced fumble and his first interception since 2016.
This Cowboys game is than in the past for Norman since he won't be going up against his frenemy in former Dallas receiver Dez Bryant.
The pair had a bit of a rivalry over the past two seasons, but the Cowboys decided to part ways with Bryant in the offseason.
"He has a lot left in the tank. It's what he gets out of it, that's the thing," Norman said of Bryant in April. "I mean he can be whatever he wants to be.
Daron Payne
Be on the look out for former Alabama defensive tackle and Redskins first-round pick Daron Payne.
Payne was a popular Cowboys pick in mock drafts, but the Redskins took him at No. 13 The Cowboys settled for linebacker Leighton Vander Esch with the No. 19 pick, and he currently leads the team in tackles.
Payne has already made an impact for Washington. He's up to two sacks and one forced fumble to go with 12 total tackles on the season.